Last year I discovered a pear growing on an old homestead that I really liked so I tried my hand at grafting for the first time. I used OHxF87 rootstock.

I must confess the process was more difficult than I had imagined. When I was finished, I wasn't sure if I would be successful. To my utter amazement and delight 4 of 4 grafts are growing.

Now the rootsock each have several small branches growing as well as 2 or 3 on the grafted portion.

My question is:

When do I pinch back the rootstock growth? Then when do I prune to a central leader for the grafted section?

I want the rootsock to have plenty of energy and I want the grafted portion to grow as fast as possible.

Any help would be greatly appreciated by this novice grafter.